BRAESIDE SCHOOL EARLY YEARS An Exceptional Independent School in Buckhurst Hill
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Welcome
Why Choose a Braeside Early Years?
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School Life
Curriculum
A Day in the Life Keeping you Informed
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Pastoral Care Beyond the Classroom Admissions Fees and Funding
Early Years FAQ
Welcome Welcome to the Early Years at Braeside School. We aim to care for and develop the potential of your child in a nuturing, safe environment, encouraging them to learn through play and delight in discovery. Our Early Years is an engaging and exciting place, and one that enables each pupil to become confident and eager learners, ready and excited to start school life. The Early Years Foundation Stage at Braeside includes Kindergarten (2½-4 year olds) and Reception (4 to 5 year olds). Children can begin school from 2½ years, and are able to attend on a part-time or full-time basis during the Kindergarten Years. We were delighted to announce recently that Braeside is welcoming boys into Kindergarten and Reception from September 2021. This is part of a phased plan over several years to move to full coeducational provision throughout the school. A coeducational environment is in the best interests of the children in today’s society, and an increasing number of families are indicating that they would prefer an excellent family school that serves their sons as well as their daughters. All children flourish in our Early Years. They have excellent relationships with staff and often exceed their expected levels of progress. Braeside provides a happy and secure environment to learn and our pupils really enjoy their time at school. Each child has a committed Key Worker who is responsible for monitoring their progress and development, which is recorded in a portfolio which is available for you to see whenever you would like to. You are warmly invited to visit our Early Years and see how happy the children are for yourself. We look forward to meeting you.
Why Choose a Braeside
Early Years?
A wonderful place to learn Our purpose-built Early Years area offers a spacious, bright and happy environment for your children to learn and explore their abilities. There is also an adjacent outdoor learning environment, built exclusively for the Early Years children, all of which has been designed to nourish your child’s imagination. Children delight in gardening activities, exploring the sensory trays and playing on the range of equipment.
Smaller class sizes
One of the many benefits of a Braeside Kindergarten or Reception is the ability to have smaller class sizes. With a high number of qualified keyworkers, we give more individual attention to each child and we know each one extremely well. We consider this highly important at these early stages of the children’s education when we see such rapid development.
An enriched learning experience As we are a school and not standalone nursery, we aim to provide a more structured learning environment in which children are encouraged to learn through play. Our specialist subject teachers enrich the children’s learning experiences with activities such as sport, music, dance or computing. There is a focus on developing excellent language and communication skills, through which so much learning happens.
More resources
Our young boys and girls can access a diverse range of resources across the school site, such as the school library, computer suites, iPads, playgrounds, the studio, catering facilities and school halls. We have banks of iPads, play equipment and cooking facilities.
Beyond the classroom Braeside School is located within easy walking distance of Epping Forest where we can forage and explore on our weekly walks. The school has large grounds offering many opportunities for outdoor learning. The Group also has a fleet of six minibuses that enable regular visits to farms, museums, parks and zoos.
Automatic entry Starting in Kindergarten enables parents to secure a place for their child at school, and transition from Kindergarten to Reception is automatic. Our Reception class tends to fill up quickly as we expect our Upper Kindergarten children to move up with their friends leaving relatively few places for new entrants.
A smooth transition Primary and ‘all through’ schools are well suited to offering pre-school education as they provide the smoothest of transitions for the children as they move up to Reception. Teachers throughout the school form close relationships with the children from an early age and all staff liaise with each other as part of an internal well-organised handover when children move from one year group to the next. Children cope more easily as they are used to the environment, so there is less of the uncertainty that may come from starting somewhere new. Lower and Upper Kindergarten children frequently attend assemblies or other activities with the older children and are already used to the daily routines of school life. Parents become very familiar with the site, staff and each other as well, which certainly helps the progression through the school.
School
Life
Our young pupils are given a named Key Worker who is responsible for observing and developing their learning within the Early Years. The Key Worker is the first point of contact for parents to discuss all aspects of their child’s development.
Entry at 3+ in Kindergarten We normally accept around 15 children into Kindergarten at varying points in the academic year. Although we encourage our Upper Kindergarten children to attend for 5 full days, there is the more flexible option for mornings only while they adjust and settle in. The young children enjoy a varied programme of both indoors and outdoors activities and experience a balance of learning through play and more formal work. They benefit from dedicated Music, Computing and PE lessons that support their physical development and we monitor their gross motor skills and fine motor skills as they develop in the classroom.
Entry at 4+ Reception Our Kindergarten children move seamlessly into Reception at the age of 4 and are joined by new friends who come either from local nurseries or who start a formal education for the first time. Everyone quickly becomes familiar with the routines of daily school life and our Reception pupils are eager and enthusiastic learners. We encourage responsibility with children taking it in turns to be Monitors for the day. Reception pupils help to prepare a healthy snack that includes fruit and vegetables with milk or water. The children enjoy learning to read and practice their phonics either individually with their Key Workers or in small groups. Pencil control, letter formation and Mathematics all form part of the children’s development.
Curriculum The Kindergarten and Reception classes provide education for children from 2½ to 5 years, and the learning follows the Early Years requirements to develop skills in seven separate areas:
Prime Areas • Communication and Language • Physical Development • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas • • • •
Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design
The curriculum is structured to allow an excellent balance between teacher-initiated and pupil-initiated activities. We want our pupils to be enthused by their learning and become engaged with it; we recognise that children need to be able to shape their learning and share their ideas. High staff to pupil ratios are maintained throughout the day with children always within sight or sound of qualified members of staff. The department adopts a topic-based approach to learning, with a range of activities in the afternoons that include art, music, cooking and physical education. The Head of Early Years is responsible for the day-to-day development of all Kindergarten and Reception children and is able to advise parents on a wide range of issues. Parents are welcome to look at their child’s learning portfolio at any time and these are readily available in the classrooms. Physical Education at Braeside provides an enjoyable, satisfying and balanced approach for all students to develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. The curriculum is taught by specialist PE teachers from Kindergarten upwards and is designed to offer a comprehensive range of experiences through which pupils are encouraged to develop the personal qualities of commitment, fairness and enthusiasm. Pupils also have a range of lessons taught by specialist teachers such as Music, French, and Yoga.
Life
A Day in the
Our days in Kindergarten vary enormously and we pride ourselves on our ‘child led’ approach. A day in the life our younger children can be influenced by many factors including the weather, birthdays, special events and announcements so our staff adapt and change their plans regularly. Our curriculum is tailored to enable children to work towards achieving the Early Learning Goals, topics, activities, trips and visits are all linked to the strands appropriate to the age of your child. We are a Kindergarten in a school so your child will very quickly become familiar with the routines of a normal school day. Our Kindergarten class works very closely with Reception and both sets of children get to know many of the older pupils through a variety of whole school activities including sports day and whole school trips. Our Kindergarten children are happy and extremely confident by the time they move to Reception.
Every day in the Early Years is different, but a typical day might look something like the below. Additionally, pupils may have Music, French, PE and Yoga whivh are taught by our specialist teachers.
7.30am Breakfast club opens for those wh o wish to opt in to this additional service. 8.25am School opens and children begin to arrive.
8.25 – 10am Free flow activities both inside an d in the garden area. Key worker groups, 1:1 act ivities with a number or phonics focus. 10.00am Snack time with a choice of fresh fruit, crackers, toast and other similar items. We all drink water at this time and throughout the day. 10.20am Story or carpet time 10.30 am Break time with Reception
10.50am Focused activity time as a whole department (LK or UK). For example the introduction to a new letter sound or a topic based activity.
12.00pm Lunch with the whole junior school. 1.00pm Story time
1.00-3.00pm Opportunities for independent lea rning, exploration and play across all 7 areas of learning with selfselection of resources for activities encouraged. 3.00pm vities Tidying up time, snack and group singing acti or story to end the day.
3.30pm Home time for those not staying to club.
3.30- 6.00pm Tea time and other clubs
Keeping you
Informed
We value our close relationships with parents and consult with you on a regular basis. From formal parent/teacher consultations, to drop-in meetings and informal coffee morning chats with the Group Principals and Headmistress. Parents are also welcome at exhibitions, performances, sports days, our annual Prize Day celebrations and Christmas concerts. Parents are encouraged to be involved in the life of the school and some accompany school trips or help out at school events.
Drop In Mornings
Drop Off and Pick Up
Regular drop in mornings are an excellent way for you to gain an insight into school life and come and see for yourself what your children have been doing.
There are numerous opportunities for information to be shared between parents and practitioners. Staff will be on hand every morning and afternoon when you pick up and drop off your children, and will be happy to talk to you about any questions or concerns you may have.
Always Contactable If there is anything that you forgot to mention during the school day, staff are contactable by email or phone, and will always endevour to get back to you as soon as possible.
Social Media Our social media accounts, which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, are updated on a daily basis with pictures and school news.
Monthly Newsletters Every month the Early Years classes are included in the whole school newsletter, which details both key events and general classroom activites that have taken place that month. The newsletters are a great way to see how the Early Years engage with the whole school community.
Parents’ Evenings We also offer regular parent consultation evenings, so that you are able to make regular appointments to come in and discuss your child’s progress.
Weekly Photos and Recaps Every week you’ll receive a recap of the many activities the pupils enjoyed throughout the week. This will be accompanied by a range of photographs, providing an additioanl glimpse of their school day. These encourage discussions between the parents and children in order to further extend the children’s critical thinking skills.
Pastoral
Care
Pupils’ wellbeing underpins all aspects of school life. Braeside is a school with a friendly family atmosphere, where pupils feel safe and are encouraged to share their problems and concerns. The Headmistress, Deputy Head and Assistant Head are responsible for Pastoral Care with the Form Tutors also playing an important role. We work closely with parents and those caring for our pupils. Seeing them every day as part of the dropping off and picking up routine gives us opportunities to chat and share information. We build positive relationships with our parents who support us by informing us of their child’s ‘WOW’ moments. These reflect development that occurs outside of their school experience. Our Early Years team is approachable and willing to support parents with general advice about their children’s education and developmental milestones.
Meals
We understand how important it is to provide nutritionally balanced healthy meals for growing children. All of our meals are cooked onsite using a selection of fresh ingredients. Lunch follows a three-weekly menu offering choice and variety. We cater for allergies and other dietary requirements. Children are also provided with snacks which include fresh fruit and vegetables.
Beyond the
Classroom
We make the most of our location, taking learning outside the classroom and into the local environment for Art, Science, Geography and more. We use a number of Olympic quality local sports facilities and offer a wide range of sports throughout the school. Trips and outings form an important part of the curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 11.
Extended Day We offer a Breakfast Club and After School Club for pupils from Kindergarten to Year 5. Breakfast Club is available from 7.30am and After School Club runs until 6pm.
Extracurricular Activities There is a broad extracurricular programme providing enriching opportunities for pupils to develop new skills, participate in sports and enjoy a range of creative and musical activities either during or after school.
Admissions In order to secure a place on our waiting list parents will need to complete the Online Registration Form which requires a non-refundable deposit payment of £50. A place on the waiting list does not guarantee admission. The School must feel reasonably sure that it will be able to educate and develop the prospective pupil to the best of her potential and in line with the general standards achieved by the pupil’s peers. Entry into the Early Years (Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten & Reception) – children aged 2½ (rising 3) to 5 At all points of entry in the Early Years, the School sets its own tests as appropriate through extensive informal observations that take place by one or more members of staff during an extended Taster Session. We are looking to admit boys and girls who: • • • • • • •
Are able to interact appropriately with children of a similar age and adults Display a level of behaviour that meets the school’s high expectations Are able to listen to directions and follow instructions Are able to concentrate on set activities Are able to use the toilet independently, and are dry at the point of entry Are able to use language appropriate to their age. Children must be 3 in the term in which they start school (rising 3) to join Lower Kindergarten.
In all cases there will be a discussion with the parents by the Headmistress to establish that the School is right for the child. Children are able to start at different points in the academic year in Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten and Reception. • • • •
A taster session will be organised in school as part of the admissions process prior to offering a place. Parents will normally be required to have registered with the school prior to the Taster Sessions. A formal offer will normally be sent to parents at least seven months prior to the intended start date The Acceptance Form must be signed and returned to the School Office by two weeks after the formal offer date, after which point if not returned the offer will lapse and a new offer will be sent to the next child on our list. • School experience sessions are used for staff to observe the children in school and to help the children to acclimatise to their new surroundings. A school experience session will be arranged during the half term before the accepted start date.
Fees and
Funding
We recognise that parents make many financial sacrifices when choosing us for their children’s education, and we pride ourselves on providing an all-round educational experience that extends well beyond the traditional confines of the classroom. Our fees represent excellent value for money, especially considering the number of specialist staff and high staff to pupil ratios.
Termly Tuition Fees
For Academic Year September 2021 to July 2022 Early Years Lower Kindergarten: Minimum of 3 half-day sessions per week Upper Kindergarten: Minimum of 5 half-day sessions per week Morning sessions (including lunch)
£495
Morning sessions (not including lunch) Afternoon sessions
£455
Full time
£3,275
Reception
£3,400
£200
Early Years
FAQs
How early do you start phonics
and wri
ting? We begin phonics in Kindergarten and there is an element of phonics daily – this includes phonics, sou word building in Reception. We pro nds and recognition. We move ont vide opportunities to write in Kinder o blends and garten – pencils, paper and other start this journey when they are rea equ ipment is always available for pup dy to take the next step. ils. They will
Lower Kindergarten is about equ ipping pupils with the skills to be abl e to start writing and this can include and learning to love all kinds of writ developing their fine motor skills, ing. We provide opportunities to writ letter formation e spontaneously as part of imagin ative role play and creative activiti es.
Where do I go for help and information?
s learning programme with you. Timetables and Our staff will always be happy to discuss your child’ informed about the topics and your child’s work. information letters are sent home weekly to keep you they also have books and folders that you will be Evidence is kept in each child’s personal portfolio and able to look at regularly. phonics and mathematics programmes that we We offer an information meeting for parents about the children at home. follow in school. This enables parents to support their
When is the best age to begin
school?
All children are individuals and will be ready at different ages. We exp ect children to be out of nappies before starting school, unless the re is a medical reason as to why this is not possible. We provide flexible sessions in Kindergarten , and expect the children in our Rec eption to attend full time to benefit from the full range of our education al programmes. In our experience we find that chil dren enjoy learning through play and socialising with other childre from an early age, so we recomme n nd starting at any age from 3 upw ards.
Will my child have a ‘key person’?
There is regular contact with your child’s Key Worker. Before your child joins Braeside, you will be invited into school to meet staff including the EYFS Coordinator and your child’s Key Worker. In addition they will spend some time finding out more about your child and giving you time to share information with us. Once your child begins school, there are daily opportunities to meet and talk to the Key Worker and other members of the team. There are special parents’ meetings for specific discussion on how your child is progressing, and ‘getting to know you’ mornings when parents are invited into school for informal meetings with staff and other parents.
When should my child start reading?
Children start reading in Kindergarten with our phonics and reading schemes. Not all children progress in reading at the same rate at this early age. Please do not worry if your child is not at the same level as their friends. In Reception, children start by taking home picture books to describe to their parents and make up their own stories. Once the children have learned their sounds and are confident at recognising them, reading books with words are sent home with word recognition sheets.
What are the benefits of such small class sizes?
Small class sizes mean a productive relationship between staff and pupils. Marking is meaningful and personalised to the learning of the individual. Verbal feedback can be given frequently and can focus on the specific strengths and areas for improvement for the individual child. Pupils get to know each other quickly and easily, developing lasting friendships that are supportive and caring.
Do you accept the Government Nursery Grant or Employment
Tax Schemes?
e on your behalf and apply the Yes. We administer the Essex County Council Nursery Grant schem 3 and 5 benefit. large discount to your termly fees. All children between the ages of are a tax saving benefit for Some companies provide their staff with Nursery Vouchers, which ister this scheme for you, we are employees to use for nursery care. Although we cannot admin termly fees. registered with multiple schemes and apply these discounts to your
COME AND VISIT US Open Days in March and October. Personal tours can be arranged at a time to suit you.
CONTACT US TELEPHONE: 020 8504 1133 EMAIL: info@braesideschool.co.uk ADDRESS: 130 High Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5SD
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